Under the peaceful sunset, the world seemed to hold its breath in a rare moment of stillness. Estelle sat at the edge of a cliff, her lean, athletic form outlined against the soft pink and gold hues of the sky. The gentle breeze played with strands of her long, dark hair, tied back in a practical ponytail that kept it from obscuring her view. The scent of salt from the distant sea filled the air, mingling with the faint aroma of worn fabric—the soft, weathered clothing she favored for its ease of movement. Below her hand rested the familiar weight of her sword, the weapon she had relied on countless times in the battles that had shaped her life.

The soothing rhythm of the waves below, lapping against the rocky shore, mirrored the ebb and flow of Estelle’s thoughts as they drifted as easily as the clouds above. This cliff had been her sanctuary since childhood, a place where the orphanage’s walls couldn’t confine her. Here, amidst the open sky and endless horizon, she found solace and a fleeting sense of freedom.

As she gazed out at the horizon, Estelle reflected on the day's events and the path her life had taken. Today had been a quiet one, a welcome change from the chaos of her early days as a Hunter. With each battle, the monsters had grown easier to defeat, and although no one had officially confirmed it, Estelle could feel her Essence growing stronger with every victory. There were whispers that killing monsters—or even other Aeths—could amplify one's Essence, a theory that had fueled the rise of the feared "Dark" Hunters. But they had been largely quelled, thanks in no small part to the stabilizing efforts of the Aegis Union.

Despite the dangers of her work, Estelle was grateful to the Aegis Union and its founder, Alaric Hale. Even though they were roughly the same age, his accomplishments far surpassed what most could achieve in a lifetime. At first, she had regarded him as an unreachable figure, a celebrity of sorts. But as she got to know him better, that distant respect deepened into something more personal. They often bickered—usually about her recklessness, much like this morning—but in those moments, she realized that they had become friends. Despite his complaints, Estelle was one of his top performers for a reason, and she took pride in that.

She understood the source of his frustration, however, having seen Alaric in action before—during emergencies when he was forced to fight as an Aeth himself. He was careful, calculated, and efficient, a stark contrast to her own impulsive style. Yet, despite his strategic approach to battle, outside of it, Alaric was surprisingly friendly and talkative—though he reserved his warmth for those close to him. He often wore a business-like smile, but Estelle had learned to see past that to the person beneath.

Alaric’s dual nature—his ability to balance professionalism with genuine care—was reflected in the way he ran the Union. The job he offered wasn’t just about fighting monsters or capturing Dark Hunters; it came with benefits that had profoundly impacted Estelle's life. The high-risk, high-reward nature of her work allowed her to support the siblings she had grown up with at the orphanage, providing them with the stability and opportunities they might not have otherwise had.

Now, with her siblings pursuing their own lives, Estelle found herself with more peace and quiet than ever before. The family dinners that once marked every weekend had become less frequent, as each of them followed their own paths. Though some still visited to check on her or ask for advice, it was rare to gather them all together. The loneliness this brought was a quiet ache, but it wasn’t the only thing that had driven her to this cliffside tonight.

As she watched the sun sink lower, Estelle couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more she needed to do. It was a nagging sense of incompleteness, a distant echo of the drive that had led her to this point in life—the drive to protect those she cared about and to uncover the truths that lay hidden beneath the surface. This instinct, or whatever it was, had guided her more times than she could count, from the secrets of the orphanage to the guidance she had offered her siblings. It was too accurate to dismiss as mere coincidence.

Lost in thought as the sun continued its descent, Estelle was suddenly overwhelmed by a sharp, splitting headache. The world around her dimmed, the vibrant colors of the sunset fading into darkness. She couldn’t tell if the night had fallen or if her vision was clouded by pain. The agony seemed to stretch on forever, but amidst it, she heard a faint, almost inaudible whisper. “…goodbye…” was all she could make out before the headache abruptly ceased.

...

Still disoriented by the lingering effects of the headache, Estelle struggled to piece together her surroundings. "Ugh... How long have I been out for?" she murmured, her voice a bit hoarse as she slowly opened her eyes. The world around her was still and quiet, bathed in the soft, pale light of dawn. She found herself lying on the familiar cliffside where she had been watching the sunset just minutes before—or so she thought.

The sky above was a canvas of muted colors, the deep blues of night fading into the gentle pinks and purples of early morning. The sun had yet to rise fully, its light only just beginning to brush the horizon behind her, leaving the cliffside wrapped in the cool, lingering shadows of the night. The sea below murmured softly against the rocks, a sound that usually brought her comfort but now only added to her disorientation.

Realizing that it was now dawn, Estelle’s heart skipped a beat. "How...?" she muttered, her eyes widening in shock. Could she have been unconscious the entire night? Panic began to creep in as the reality of the situation hit her—she might be late for work. Without another thought, she grabbed her trusty sword lying beside her, its familiar weight bringing a small sense of grounding. She bolted upright, her movements quick and urgent, as she prepared to rush to the worksite, hoping she wasn’t too late.

Estelle burst through the door of her worksite, still a bit breathless from running, and quickly called out, “Sorry! I’m late!” She hadn’t had time to check the clock but hoped she wasn’t too late. Expecting to be met with disappointed looks or at least some playful teasing from her team, she was instead greeted with expressions of shock and disbelief.

“What... What’s wrong?” Estelle asked, her confusion growing as she noticed the way everyone was staring at her. One of her coworkers, the girl who was usually the first to poke fun at her for being late, reached out hesitantly to touch Estelle’s face. Her look was a mix of confusion and relief as she carefully traced her fingers over Estelle’s features.

“Are you really Estelle?” the girl asked, her voice shaky.

“Of course! What’s with you all?” Estelle replied, baffled. The girl finally stopped patting her face, seeming to have satisfied herself that Estelle was, indeed, real.

“We all thought that you had died,” the girl said softly, her voice tinged with lingering fear.

“What? I’m just a bit late. Why did you all reach that conclusion?” Estelle’s confusion deepened, her heart starting to race as she tried to make sense of what was happening.

“You’ve been missing for more than a month, Estelle. We feared the worst,” the girl sighed, her expression a mixture of relief and concern as she narrowed her eyes, clearly puzzled by Estelle’s reaction.

At this point, the rest of her coworkers began to crowd around her, bombarding her with questions. “Where have you been?” “We were worried sick!” The voices blurred together as Estelle tried to process the situation, feeling overwhelmed by the barrage of questions and concerns.

Amid the crowd, someone began to ask, “Your…” but the question was abruptly cut off by the sound of hurried footsteps approaching the group. The commotion died down as everyone turned to see who it was.

It was their boss, Alaric, and he looked as if he had just seen a ghost.

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

Estelle watched as the crowd around her grew silent, their attention shifting to the hurried footsteps approaching them. It was rare for Alaric to appear like this, especially in such a state. Usually so composed and in control, the sight of him with that expression—a mix of shock and urgency—caught everyone off guard.

"You... You..." Alaric began, his voice strained as if he were struggling to catch his breath. But within moments, he pulled himself together, his usual authoritative demeanor slipping back into place. "You’d better fill me in on what happened."

Estelle nodded, though she wasn’t entirely sure what to say. Her own confusion mirrored the questions she could see in his eyes. The crowd, sensing the gravity of the situation, began to disperse slightly, giving them some space. As Alaric’s gaze finally settled on her, his eyes widened ever so slightly before narrowing again.

"What's with your hair?" Alaric asked, his voice low, almost hesitant.

Estelle blinked, grabbing her ponytail and bringing it into her line of sight. The sight of the pale white strands mixed with her usual hair color surprised her. For a moment, she didn’t know what to say. Then, not wanting to cause further alarm, she forced a small smile and quipped, "Uh, new style. Do you like it?"

Alaric’s stern expression softened for just a fraction of a second, his lips parting slightly as if to respond, but then he caught himself. "It suits you..." he murmured, barely audible, before quickly straightening up. He glanced around, noticing the eyes still on them, and his composure snapped back into place.

"Ehem… You better follow me to my office. We need to talk," he said, his tone now formal and controlled, though Estelle couldn’t help but notice the lingering tension in his voice.

Estelle nodded again, her confusion deepening as she followed him, leaving the still-curious crowd behind. The strange occurrences of the day, from her hair to Alaric's behavior, left her feeling more confused than ever.

The headquarters of the Aegis Union buzzed with its usual activity, but today, something felt different. Estelle could feel the weight of curious and surprised glances from the staff as they passed, their eyes lingering on her longer than usual.

Once inside, Alaric closed the door behind them and took his seat, his usual commanding presence seeming slightly more subdued. He gestured for her to sit across from him, then sighed deeply, as if gathering his thoughts.

"Now, go on," he prompted, his voice carrying the same steady authority she was accustomed to, though there was a hint of something else—something she couldn’t quite place.

Estelle hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to explain the strange occurrences of the past day. The confusion she felt mirrored the uncertainty in her thoughts, but she decided to tell Alaric everything she knew. After all, he had always been someone she could trust.

"I was enjoying the scenery to relax my mind during the break I requested in the morning," she began, her voice steady despite her inner turmoil. She saw a flicker of recognition in Alaric’s eyes; he knew about the break, though it should only be for half a day. "Then I got a headache, and after that... it was already this morning."

"Headache?" Alaric’s expression shifted slightly as he scanned her, his eyes narrowing with concern. "Are you feeling okay now?"

Estelle quickly assured him, "The headache is gone. I’m feeling fine."

She noticed a subtle relaxation in Alaric’s posture as she spoke, as if her words had alleviated some of his worries. But he quickly returned to his serious demeanor, leaning forward slightly as he asked, "That’s it?"

Estelle nodded. It was all she knew herself. The strangeness of the events still weighed heavily on her mind, but she had no more answers to offer.

Alaric furrowed his brow, his thoughts seemingly far away as he continued, "You know, your kids have been bombarding us with questions and requests almost every day since they couldn’t reach you."

Estelle’s expression softened at the mention of her siblings. A mix of emotions surged within her—she was touched by their concern but also pained by the knowledge that she had worried them. Wanting to lighten the mood a little, she offered Alaric a small, teasing smile. "They’re my siblings, not kids. I’m still single, you know."

Alaric sighed again, clearly not in the mood for jokes, though the tension in the room seemed to ease a little. "That’s not the point," he murmured, rubbing his temples. "Now that you’re back, you’d better keep them from making more trouble for me."

It was the first time Estelle had seen Alaric so visibly exasperated, even more so than when he had scolded her for her reckless behavior in the past. But beneath his frustration, she could sense his relief—a sign that he was glad she was here, safe and sound.

Alaric seemed ready to move on, leaning back in his chair as he prepared to discuss something more serious. "Also, there’s something else I need to talk to you about—" he began, but before he could finish, the door to his office creaked open, and someone stormed in.

Estelle watched as the door swung open, revealing a woman with a slightly exasperated expression, her eyes narrowing as she stormed into the room. “Sir, what is this about transferring to an academy? I don’t want to work with kids,” she said, her voice tinged with frustration.

Alaric let out a long sigh, signaling for the woman to take a seat beside Estelle. “Lydia, sit down. I was about to tell her about this too.”

Lydia? Estelle’s mind clicked into place, finally recalling the coworker from another department who had frequently complained about being overworked. Lydia Caden, the no-nonsense medic who was known for her sharp tongue and dedication to her work.

Lydia turned to Estelle, her expression softening slightly as she recognized her. “Oh, it’s you. A lot of people have been fussing about you missing. But I figured someone like you was probably just off creating trouble somewhere before coming back on your own. Looks like I was right.”

Estelle couldn’t help but chuckle at Lydia’s blunt assessment, though she noticed the concern that lingered in Lydia’s eyes, masked by her usual straightforward demeanor.

Alaric shook his head, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips as Lydia took a seat. “Right, the decision to create an academy has already been made, and we’ve been finalizing the transfer assignments. Estelle, you’ll be one of the instructors, and Lydia here will be the main doctor for its infirmary.”

Lydia, however, wasn’t ready to let the matter drop. “But you should’ve asked my opinion about it,” she retorted, her tone still holding a note of irritation. “I don’t want to handle kids.”

Alaric leaned back in his chair, his gaze steady as he replied, “Haven’t you been complaining to just about everyone that you’re overworked? There will probably be less work in an academy than being a medic for the active Hunters.”

Lydia crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing as she considered his words. “Dealing with reckless Aeths is one thing, but kids? I don’t want to—”

Before she could continue, Alaric cut in smoothly, “And for being the pioneers of this project, I promise the pay raise will be generous.”

At the mention of a pay raise, Lydia paused, the protest dying on her lips. She tilted her head slightly, considering the offer, before finally nodding. “You’d better keep that promise, then.”

Alaric smiled, his tone shifting back to business as he continued to explain the details of the transfer. As he spoke, Estelle noticed Lydia’s faint smile, the thought of a pay raise clearly doing its job in replacing her earlier frustration. The tension in the room eased as Alaric outlined the plan. Estelle found herself relaxing into the conversation, even as the weight of her recent strange occurrences hung in the back of her mind.

Alaric’s voice had taken on a more familiar tone, and she could see the shift in his demeanor—a blend of professionalism and something more personal that she couldn't quite place.

When Alaric dismissed the group, his eyes lingered on Estelle longer than usual. Sensing his gaze, Estelle hesitated before leaving the room, a question forming in her mind. Turning back to face him, she asked, “Alaric, this opportunity seems good. But why did you suggest me as an instructor?”

Alaric met her gaze for a moment, his expression unreadable. “I recommended you because you seem good with... raising your siblings and all,” he replied, his voice steady. Then, as if the words were pulled from him involuntarily, he added, almost as a murmur, “And I don’t want to keep worrying about you with your recklessness on the front line.”

Estelle’s faint smile wavered, touched by the genuine concern in his words. Alaric, realizing the vulnerability he had just shown, quickly turned away, avoiding her eyes as if embarrassed by his admission. Estelle could see the tension in his shoulders, the way he seemed to be battling with his own emotions.

As she prepared to leave, Alaric called out to her, his voice slightly different than usual, softer, yet tinged with something she couldn’t quite identify. “Estelle,” he began, hesitating just enough to make her pause, “would you be free for dinner this weekend?”

The question took her by surprise, and she blinked, momentarily taken aback. Dinner? Was this for work? The thought flitted through her mind, but as she looked at him, noticing the slight flush creeping up his ears despite his effort to maintain a straight face, she realized there might be more to his invitation.

With a gentle smile, Estelle nodded, feeling a warmth spread through her at the unexpected gesture. “I should be,” she replied, her tone light, though the underlying curiosity about his intent lingered.

As she turned to leave, she couldn’t help but steal one last glance at Alaric, noting how he seemed to relax slightly, as if her response had lifted a weight off his shoulders. The faint smile that tugged at his lips as she walked away left her wondering what exactly this dinner might entail, and whether it was the beginning of something neither of them had anticipated.